Summer Words
Navigate
2026 Summer Words
Writers Conference
Aspen Words is excited to welcome writers back to Snowmass Village for the 2026 Summer Words Writers Conference. We look forward to gathering once again for a week of craft, creativity, and connection.
Applications for the Emerging Writer Fellowships open December 10, 2025 and close January 12, 2026.
Juried Workshop applications open January 12, 2026 and close February 26, 2026.
We hope you will join us for another exceptional year. If you have any questions about the application process or general Summer Words inquiries, please reach out to Ivy Chalmers at Ivy.Chalmers@aspeninstitute.org
Recognized as one of the nation’s top literary gatherings, Summer Words is a six-day celebration of words, stories, and ideas held annually in an idyllic Rocky Mountain setting.
Each year, Summer Words brings together an exceptional community of writers, faculty, and literary professionals for workshops, panels, readings, and conversations. Our students continue to inspire us with their creativity, dedication, and talent, and we look forward to building on that energy in 2026.
We hope you’ll join us for the 2026 Summer Words Writers Conference in Snowmass Village. Stay tuned—faculty lineup, schedule details, and application information will be announced soon!
2026 Applications
Registration for the 2026 Summer Words Writers Conference will open soon!
Applications for the Emerging Writer Fellowships open December 10, 2025 and close January 12, 2026.
Juried Workshop applications open January 12, 2026 and close February 26, 2026.
2026 tuition rates:
5-Day Juried Workshops: $1,925
Tuition Includes:
Faculty instruction and materials
Access to all public panels throughout the week
Breakfast and lunch at the Viewline Resort (Monday through Friday)
Opening and closing receptions
Discounted lodging rates at our conference site, the Viewline Resort in Snowmass Village, Colorado.
Two professional consultations with an agent and/or editor for most juried and book branding workshop participants (*generative writing and screenwriting students will have two alternative activities instead of one-on-one consultations
Social activities such as guided hikes, an open mic evening and informal gatherings.
Scholarships
General Scholarships: Aspen Words offers a limited number of partial and full tuition scholarships based on merit and financial need. General scholarships cover tuition only. Recipients are responsible for travel, lodging and meals (excluding breakfast and lunch). Please complete the financial aid section of the application to apply for a scholarship. Acceptance into a workshop does not necessarily mean an automatic scholarship.
Scholarships for Roaring Fork Valley Writers (Aspen to Parachute)
Thanks to the generosity of Arny and Anne Porath, these two merit-based scholarships cover tuition and lodging. Please indicate on your application that you would like to apply for this opportunity.
Emerging Writer Fellowships
Aspen Words provides Summer Words fellowships to emerging writers who demonstrate exceptional talent and promise. Candidates are nominated by writers, agents, editors and others associated with publishing. Fellows receive a full scholarship to the Summer Words conference, including tuition, airfare, shared lodging and some meals. If you are interested in being nominated, please have a colleague, teacher or mentor who is familiar with your work request the nomination form. Please email Ivy Chalmers (ivy.chalmers@aspeninstitute.org) with questions.
Juried applications will open for everyone on January 12, 2026, and will close on February 26, 2026.
2026 Summer Words Writer’s Conference faculty lineup
JURIED WORKSHOPS INCLUDED:
Fiction: Jamel Brinkley
Fiction: Christopher Castellani
Fiction: Jade Chang
Memoir: Brian Broome
Memoir: Meghan O’Rourke
Sci-Fi/Fantasy: Lev Grossman
JURIED WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS
AND FACULTY BIOS
FICTION | Jamel Brinkley
Jamel Brinkley bio coming soon!
Workshop Description
coming soon!
FICTION | Christopher Castellani
Christopher Castellani is the author of four novels, most recently “Leading Men,”for which he received fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, MacDowell and the Massachusetts Cultural Council, among others. His book of essays on narration in fiction, “The Art of Perspective: Who Tells the Story,” was published by Graywolf in 2016, and is taught in many writing workshops. Christopher is a longtime member of the faculty and academic board of the Warren Wilson MFA program and the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference, and he currently chairs the writing panel for the National YoungArts Foundation. In 2015, Christopher was awarded the Barnes and Noble/Poets & Writers “Writer for Writers” Award in recognition of his contributions to the literary community and his generosity toward fellow writers. For his latest novel, “Last Seen”(Viking, February 2026), he was awarded a Literature Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. Christopher is the current Writer-in-Residence at Brandeis University and lives in Boston and Provincetown. Castellar will be teaching a fiction workshop.
Workshop Description
Coming soon!
FICTION | Jade Chang
Jade Chang’s debut novel, “Wangs vs. the World,” won the VCU Cabell First Novelist Award and has been published in a dozen countries. Her new novel, “What a Time to Be Alive,” was published in September 2025. Her journalism and essays have recently appeared in The Best American Food Writing, and in the New York Times and Los Angeles Times magazines. She also writes for film and TV. Jade has taught writing workshops since 2018 as The Midwives of Invention, with author and podcast pioneer Ann Friedman. Chang will be teaching a fiction
Workshop Description
coming soon!
SCI-FI/FANTASY | Lev Grossman
Lev Grossman is the author of eight novels including The Bright Sword, which was a New York Times Notable Book of 2024, and the #1 New York Times bestselling Magicians trilogy, which has been published in thirty countries and adapted for television. He’s also a bestselling children’s author (The Silver Arrow), a screenwriter (The Map of Tiny Perfect Things, which was a Critics Choice Award finalist), and an award-winning journalist — he spent 15 years as the book critic for Time magazine, and his essays and criticism have appeared in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Vanity Fair, the Atlantic, Slate, the Week, the Believer, Wired, and many other places. Grossman will be teaching a fantasy/sci-fi workshop.
Workshop description
coming soon!
MEMOIR | Brian Broome
Brian Broome, a poet and screenwriter, is the author of “Punch Me Up to the Gods.” He is K. Leroy Irvis Fellow and instructor in the Writing Program at the University of Pittsburgh. Broome has been a finalist in The Moth storytelling competition and won the grand prize in Carnegie Mellon University’s Martin Luther King Writing Awards. He also won a VANN Award from the Pittsburgh Black Media Federation for journalism in 2019. Broome lives in Pittsburgh. Broome will be teaching a memoir workshop.
Workshop Description
coming soon!
MEMOIR | Meghan O’Rourke
Meghan O’Rourke is the author of the New York Times bestseller “The Invisible Kingdom: Reimagining Chronic Illness,” a finalist for the National Book Award, and the bestselling memoir “The Long Goodbye,” as well as three poetry collections including “Sun in Days,” a Washington Post Top Ten Book of the Year. She is the executive editor of The Yale Review and a former editor at The New Yorker. A Guggenheim Fellow, Radcliffe Fellow and recipient of the Whiting Nonfiction Award, she has taught creative writing at Princeton and in the NYU MFA programs. She is now Professor in the Practice of Creative Writing and executive editor at The Yale Review. O’Rourke will be teaching a memoir workshop.
Workshop Description
Details coming soon!
NON -JURIED WORKSHOPS
Generative Writing: Karen Shepard
Inside the World of Book Publishing & Author Branding: Lisa Sharkey
Readers Retreat: Will Schwalbe
All workshops will be held at the Viewline Resort in Snowmass (100 Elbert Lane Snowmass Village, CO).
*If you are interested in financial aid for the Generative Writing workshop, please contact ivy.chalmers@aspeninstitute.org.
NON-JURIED WORKSHOPS
GENERATIVE WRITING | Karen Shepard
Karen Shepard
Karen Shepard is a Chinese-American born and raised in New York City. She is the author of four novels, “An Empire of Women,” “The Bad Boy’s Wife,”
Don’t I Know You?”, and “The Celestials,” which was short-listed for the Massachusetts Book Award and the William Saroyan International Prize for Writing. Her most recent book is a collection of short stories, “Kiss Me Someone,” which was shortlisted for the Story Prize. Her short fiction has been published in The Atlantic Monthly, Tin House, One Story, and Ploughshares, among others. Her nonfiction has appeared in O Magazine, Buzzfeed, More, Self, USA Today, and The Boston Globe, among others. She has received the William Goyen-Doris Roberts Fellowship for Fiction, was a National Magazine Award Finalist, and was a recipient of a Massachusetts Cultural Council Artist Grant. She teaches writing and literature at Williams College in Williamstown, MA.
Workshop Description
A stranger is sitting on a stool at a bar, minding her own business. You approach and say, “Can I tell you a story?” The stranger gives you a look and says, warily, “Okay.” How do you keep that stranger on the barstool? In this generative workshop, we’ll spend five mornings discussing short published work as examples of how others have solved some of the challenges we’re all facing, and then we’ll practice some of the skills necessary to meet those challenges through in-class writing prompts followed by discussion. Writers will leave with new work and new strategies to pursue as well as a better understanding of how to identify and articulate what we’re doing on the page. Some brief (and wonderful) advance reading required.
INSIDE THE WORLD OF BOOK PUBLISHING & AUTHOR BRANDING | Lisa Sharkey
Lisa Sharkey
Lisa Sharkey, SVP and Director of Creative Development at Harper Collins Publishers, was recently described by one of her authors, number one bestseller Congressman Jamie Raskin as a “clairvoyant publishing wizard,” Following more than two decades producing, writing and developing Emmy award-winning network and syndicated television news, Lisa made the switch into books because of her love for literature, storytelling, and going deep.
Sharkey is a champion of powerful, poignant, and persuasive storytelling. More than 75 of the books she has published have become New York Times bestsellers, selling millions of copies in multiple languages across the globe over the past 15 years. Her authors have accomplished extraordinary things and changed the world by telling their stories. Sharkey publishes books in the categories of politics, journalism, true crime, music, sports, medicine, self-help, cooking, mindfulness, science, religion, military life, and inspirational memoir. Sharkey is a mother of three, a yoga teacher, and a mentor of military veterans who are transitioning into civilian life.
She lives in one of New York’s first ever eco houses that she designed along with her architect husband who co-authored their book “Dreaming Green.”
Workshop Description – New for 2024
Inside the World of Book Publishing & Author Branding
Explore the intricacies of book publishing from concept to publication and discover how to develop your unique author brand. In this engaging 3-hour daily workshop, Monday through Thursday, you’ll gain insights into the publishing process and receive personalized guidance to enhance your author identity. With homework assignments tailored to each participant, you’ll learn to navigate the dynamic publishing landscape.
READERS RETREAT | Will Schwalbe
Will Schwalbe
Will Schwalbe is the author of “The End of Your Life Book Club,” which was a #1 Indie Next pick, an Entertainment Weekly Best Book of the Year, and spent nine weeks on the New York Timesbestseller list. He has worked in digital media; in book publishing; and as a journalist, writing for various publications, including the New York Times and the South China Morning Post. He is also the author of “Send” (co-written with David Shipley) and “Books for Living.” His most recent book, “We Should Not Be Friends: The Story of a Friendship,” was published in February 2023. Will lives in New York City.
Note: The Readers Retreat meets Monday, June 24 to Wednesday, June 26 from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. The welcome dinner on Sunday evening as well as breakfasts and lunches are included in your tuition.
Workshop Description
Will Schwalbe, author of the New York Times bestseller The End of Your Life Book Club, will lead discussions about the unique power of books to shape our lives in an era of constant connectivity, with special attention on the role that reading can play to help us make sense of the world, become better people, and find answers to the big (and small) questions we all face about how best to life our lives. Many of the selections are from writers whose work he explored in his book Books for Living and range from poetry to fiction to memoir and even cookbooks, each relating to questions and concerns we all share. Over the course of three days we’ll be discussing George Orwell, Edna Lewis, Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Lin Yutang, Robert Benchley, Marie Howe, and a variety of other authors, while we celebrate reading for its own delights and as a way to help us live each day more fully.
Archives
Professional consultations provide you the opportunity to meet one-on-one with literary agents and editors, hear about the industry, ask for advice, and get feedback on your manuscript. The meetings are meant to enhance your conference experience by exposing you to the business side of publishing. Please know that while occasionally students are selected by agents at Summer Words, it is better to think of these meetings as introductions and a first step in the longer process of finding literary representation.
Juried workshop participants in fiction, memoir, science fiction/fantasy as well as book branding participants are guaranteed two private 15-minute meetings with a literary agent or editor. Generative writing, poetry and screenwriting participants will have two exclusive breakouts activities in lieu of consultations.
EDITOR | Amy Guay
Amy Guay is an assistant editor at Avid Reader Press. They are passionate about writing that unites a strong, singular voice with emotional depth and precision. In both fiction and nonfiction, they are drawn to confident sentences, a wry, wise sense of humor, and an attention to the relationships we have with others and ourselves. Their titles include Greta & Valdin by Rebecca K Reilly, and the forthcoming Convent Wisdom by Ana Garriga and Carmen Urbita and I Am Agatha by Nancy Foley. They have also assisted on bestselling and critically acclaimed titles by Chloé Cooper Jones, Myriam Gurba, Patricia Engel, and more. They grew up in Sarasota, Florida, and graduated with a B.A. in American Studies from Georgetown University.
AGENT | Kayla Lightner
Kayla Lightner (she/her) is a literary agent at Ayesha Pande Literary, which she joined in 2020 after starting her career at Liza Dawson Associates. Her clients include award-winners such as Annabelle Tometich, Mary Kay McBrayer, Minda Honey, and more. An adventurous reader who values fearless curiosity, Kayla is looking for adult literary fiction and narrative nonfiction that can masterfully straddle the line between storytelling and teaching readers something new (about the world or themselves). On the fiction side: that includes bold, incisive speculative fiction and historical re-imaginings that challenge the idea that history is written by the victors. On the nonfiction side: that includes singular memoirs, thoroughly-researched journalism/reportage, and hidden histories. After managing APL’s subrights department for several years, Kayla is particularly excited by projects with legs in multiple formats (film, television, translation, etc). You can find her complete manuscript wishlist here. Kayla is a Georgia native and earned her B.A. in English from Vassar College. When not reading, she can be found reminiscing on her rugby days or writing. Her work has appeared in several publications and has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize, Best Small Fictions, Wigleaf’s Top 50, and Best of the Net.
EDITOR | Rakesh Satyal
Rakesh Satyal is the author of the novels Blue Boy and No One Can Pronounce My Name. Blue Boy received a Lambda Literary Award and the Prose/Poetry Award from the Association of Asian American Studies and is being developed as a film by the writer and actor Nik Dodani. No One Can Pronounce My Name was nominated for the Dublin Literary Award. Satyal is currently an Executive Editor at the HarperOne Group/HarperCollins, where his authors include Michael Arceneaux, Common, Megan Garber, Megan Giddings, Sonora Jha, Daniel Lavery, Paul Lisicky, Graham Norton, and Ari Shapiro. He lives in New York City.
AGENT | Michael Taeckens
Michael Taeckens is a literary agent at Massie & McQuilkin and the co-founder of Broadside PR. He received his MFA from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, and has been working in publishing since 1995. His agenting clients include Elizabeth McCracken, Edward Carey, Forrest Gander and Dina Nayeri. During his tenure at Broadside PR (founded in 2015), his clients have been awarded and shortlisted for the Pulitzer Prize, National Book Award, Booker Prize, National Book Critics Circle Award, PEN America Literary Award, Whiting Award, International Dublin Award, Windham-Campbell Prize, Women’s Prize, Story Prize, L.A. Times Book Prize, Young Lions Award, Lambda Literary Award, NAACP Image Award, and the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize.
AGENT | Sally Wofford-Girand
Sally Wofford-Girand is a founding partner of Union Literary, LLC. Her particular areas of interest are: fiction that is both literary and gripping and non-fiction that is equally rich and compelling. Favorite authors include Amor Towles, Barbara Kingsolver (Demon Copperhead!), Kate Atkinson, Elizabeth Strout, Lydia Yukovich, Jose Saramago, and Wallace Stegner. She is a hands-on agent with a passion for great storytelling. She works with novelists Vanessa Diffenbaugh, Jenny Offill, Alyson Richman, Laura McHugh, Debra Magpie Earling, Joe Wilkins, et al, non fiction writers include Michael Frank and Kate Braestrup. She is proud to represent the estates of Grace Paley, James Welch and David Markson. She loves the thrill of discovery in working with debut novelists. She is looking for sophisticated suspense, crime, literary horror and important non-fiction (Empire of Pain being a prime example of important non-fiction). Sally is a founder of the non-profit Literary Agents of Change and a board member of Writers Omi, an international writers colony in New York State. She lives in NYC with her husband and sometimes her three children.
Financial Aid
General Scholarships: Aspen Words offers a limited number of partial and full tuition scholarships based on merit and financial need. General scholarships cover tuition only. Recipients are responsible for travel, lodging and meals (excluding breakfast and lunch). Please complete the financial aid section of the application to apply for a scholarship. Acceptance into a workshop does not necessarily mean an automatic scholarship.
Scholarships for Roaring Fork Valley Writers (Aspen to Parachute)
Thanks to the generosity of Arny and Anne Porath, these two merit-based scholarships cover tuition and lodging. Please indicate on your application that you would like to apply for this opportunity.
Emerging Writer Fellowships:
In its commitment to support new literary voices, Aspen Words provides Summer Words fellowships to emerging writers who demonstrate exceptional talent and promise. Candidates are nominated by writers, agents, editors and others associated with publishing. Last year, we received over 150 nominations. Fellows receive a full scholarship to the Summer Words conference, including tuition, airfare, lodging and some meals.
We do not accept self-nominations. If you are interested in being nominated, please have a colleague, teacher or mentor who is familiar with your work request the nomination form. Fellowship nominees will be notified of their acceptance prior to the deadline for the general application process (so that they will still have the opportunity to apply in the general round if not accepted for one of the ten fellowships).
Note: Our Emerging Writer Fellowship program is designed to give exceptional writers at the early stages of their careers a boost in the literary community and the publishing world. Writers with books under contract, or who have already had a book-length work published prior to Summer Words by a major publisher or an independent press that publishes more than 10 books per year are not eligible for this scholarship. Applicants may have had stories or novel excerpts published in magazines, literary journals or online, but this is not a requirement. Please email Ivy Chalmers at ivy.chalmers@aspeninstitute.org with questions.
Outside funding:
Please check with your educational institution or employer for additional grant or professional development funding options to attend Summer Words.
Manuscript Guidelines for Juried Workshop Applications
Please submit manuscripts in the following format: Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx), double spaced, 12 pt. Times New Roman font, regular (1″) margins
For fiction, memoir, and sci-fi/fantasy applications – 10 pages maximum, no cover pages
Note: If your submission is an excerpt from a longer piece, please submit the first 10 pages with a brief synopsis. Synopses are included in the 10-page limit but can be single spaced.
For screenwriting applications – please submit a PDF that is 35 pages maximum + 1 page synopsis
DO NOT INCLUDE YOUR NAME ANYWHERE ON THE MANUSCRIPT
SUBMISSIONS NOT FOLLOWING GUIDELINES WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
If selected to attend Summer Words, you will submit up to two manuscripts during registration—one for workshop and one for consultations. The manuscripts may be taken from the same piece of writing, or from different pieces.
Workshop Manuscript (15 pages max)*
This is the manuscript that will be shared with your instructor and fellow workshop participants for review and critique at Summer Words. This does not have to be the same manuscript that you submitted with your application, but it can be, if you choose. We recommend submitting a sample that you feel can benefit most from the thoughts and feedback of the group, rather than a piece you feel is your strongest work. The manuscript you submit for workshop can also be different from your consultation manuscript. We will distribute workshop manuscripts to each class via DropBox in late May. At that time, you may also receive course requirements, which include specific additional instructions from your faculty leader regarding workshop schedule and extracurricular reading, etc.
*Screenwriting workshop participants can submit up to 35 pages + a one page synopsis
*Generative writing do not need to submit a manuscript for this generative workshop.
Please send questions to ivy.chalmers@aspeninstitute.org
Consultation Manuscript (10 pages max)
This is the manuscript you’ll share with the agent/editor of your choice. Your scheduled appointments will be sent to you in early June.
*Generative writing and screenwriting students will be offered two alternative programs in lieu of consultations.
Consultation Manuscript (10 pages max)
This is the manuscript you’ll share with the agent/editor of your choice. Your scheduled appointments will be sent to you in early June.
*Generative writing and screenwriting students will be offered two alternative programs in lieu of consultations.
Formatting Guidelines
Carefully read the following instructions:
- Both workshop and consultation manuscripts should be formatted as Word Documents (.doc or .docx), double-spaced, Times New Roman, 12pt font. 1 -in (normal) margins.
- If it is an excerpt from a longer work, include a synopsis on the first page (synopsis may be single-spaced but should be included in the total page count).
- Put your name on the first page and number the pages.
-
For Workshop Manuscripts, please label your file “FIRST INITIAL LAST NAME_INSTRUCTOR” (For example “ICHALMERS_BRENYAH)
-
For Consultation Manuscripts, please label your file “FIRST INITIAL LAST NAME_CONSULTATION” (For example “ICHALMERS_CONSULTATION)
- We will circulate your manuscripts to all relevant parties several weeks in advance of Summer Words to ensure everyone has sufficient time to carefully read your work.
Applications for EWF will open on Dec. 10, 2025 and close Jan. 12, 2025. Fellows will be announced in February. Please email Ivy Chalmers (ivy.chalmers@aspeninstitute.org) with questions.
In our commitment to support new literary voices, Aspen Words provides Summer Words fellowships to emerging writers who demonstrate exceptional talent and promise. Candidates are nominated by writers, agents, editors and others associated with publishing. We receive over 150 nominations annually. Fellows receive a full scholarship to the Summer Words conference, including tuition, airfare, shared lodging and some meals.
We do not accept self-nominations for the Emerging Writer Fellowship (EWF). If you are interested in being nominated, please have a colleague, teacher or mentor who is familiar with your work request the nomination form. Fellowship nominees will be notified of their acceptance prior to the deadline for the general application process (so that they will still have the opportunity to apply in the general round if not accepted for one of the fellowships).
The EWF program is designed to give exceptional writers at the early stages of their careers a boost in the literary community and the publishing world. Writers with books under contract, or who have already had a book-length work published prior to Summer Words by a major publisher or an independent press that publishes more than 10 books per year are not eligible for this scholarship. Applicants may have had stories or novel excerpts published in magazines, literary journals or online, but this is not a requirement.
The 2026 Emerging Writer Fellowships workshops will be announced soon!
Summer Words 2025 Schedule
Summer Words Schedule
SUNDAY, JUNE 22
5:00 p.m.: Summer Words begins with an all-conference orientation session, welcome dinner + faculty readings!
MONDAY, JUNE 23-THURSDAY, JUNE 26
MORNING
8:00-9:00 a.m.: Breakfast is served at the Viewline Resort
9:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m.: Daily workshops*
*Generative writing meets from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Book Branding meets from 9:00-11:00am, M-F
LUNCH
11:30-1 p.m.: Lunch is served at the Viewline Resort
AFTERNOON
12:30-3 p.m.: Agent and Editor Meetings (Tuesday and Wednesday)
12-2:30 p.m. Agent and Editor Meetings (Thursday)
Panel Discussions:
Monday, June 23, 1:30-2:30 p.m.
Publishing Unpacked: What Every Writer Needs to Know
From landing an agent to shaping your manuscript, to making sense of marketing, this panel pulls back the curtain on the publishing process. Expect candid insights, smart strategies, and a few myths busted along the way.
Speakers: Michael Taeckens, Satyal Rakesh, Kayla Lightner, Amy Guay
Moderator: Sally Wofford-Girand
Location: Rooftop
Tuesday, June 24, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Narrative Architecture: Structure and POV
Structure and POV shape every story, but how do you choose the right approach? This panel explores how structure enhances theme, how POV builds intimacy and tension, and how both work together to keep readers hooked.
Speakers: Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, Joshua Mohr, Héctor Tobar
Moderator: Mitzi Rapkin
Location: Rooftop
Wednesday, June 25, 3:30-4:00 p.m.
How to Make Plot Your Friend
Plot doesn’t have to be a struggle! In this talk, Steve Almond will demystify how stories build momentum, tension, and emotional payoff—without feeling forced. Expect practical tools and a new perspective on storytelling’s most essential element.
Speaker: Steve Almond
Location: Rooftop
Wednesday, June 25, 4:10-4:40 p.m.
12 Tips to Surviving and Thriving as a Writer That Have (Almost) Nothing to Do with Craft
Writing is an art, but sustaining a writing life is another challenge. Laura Zigman shares twelve hard-won lessons on overcoming self-doubt, redefining success, and staying inspired—even when the words won’t come.
Speaker: Laura Zigman
Location: Rooftop
Thursday, June 26 3:00-4:00 p.m.
Setting the Hook: Creating Characters That Keep Readers Turning the Page
What makes a character unforgettable? This panel explores how to craft multidimensional, flawed, and compelling protagonists (and antagonists!) who linger in readers’ and viewers’ minds long after the last page.
Speakers: P. Djèlí Clark, Christina Lazaridi, Vanessa Chan
Moderator: Breeze Richardson
Location: Rooftop
Thursday, June 26 4:15-5:30 p.m.
Next Chapters: Staying Inspired After Summer Words
What happens after the conference ends? In this closing session, faculty members will reflect on key takeaways from the week, share their own creative routines, and offer advice on maintaining inspiration, discipline, and community in your writing life.
Speakers: Faculty
Moderator: Adrienne Brodeur
Location: Rooftop
Social Activities: (all are welcome, attendance is optional)
June 23, 3-4:30 p.m.: Hike
June 23, 6:00-7:30 p.m.: Game night
June 24, 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.: Farm-to-table dinner @ Elk Camp
June 25, 5-6:30 p.m.: Summer Words Participants’ Open Mic Night
June 26, 5:45-6:30 p.m.: Closing reception
FRIDAY, JUNE 27
Conference concludes after workshops. Safe travels!
WELCOME 2024 SUMMER WORDS PARTICIPANTS!
This portal contains important information that will help you plan your trip to Snowmass Village for Summer Words. Navigate through the various links on this page for details about travel, lodging and more. Please read this information carefully before completing your tuition payment form and submitting your manuscripts. Additional details will be communicated regarding the schedule and afternoon events as we get closer to June.
We look forward to welcoming you to Summer Words and to our beautiful town in the Rockies!
Tuition Payment
Please read these instructions carefully and ensure that you have prepared all requested materials before completing the form included in your acceptance email.
TUITION PAYMENT DEADLINE:
Wednesday, May 1, 2024
- 2024 5-Day Juried Workshops: $1,825
- 2024 5-Day Fundamentals of Creative Writing: $1,825
- 2024 4-Day World of Book Publishing/Author Branding: $1095
- 2024 3-Day Readers Retreat: $585
Tuition Includes:
- Faculty instruction and materials
- Access to all public panels throughout the week
- Breakfast and Lunch at the Viewline Resort (Monday through Friday)
- Opening and closing receptions
- Discounted lodging rates at our conference site, the Viewline Resort in Snowmass Village, Colorado.
- Two professional consultations with an agent and/or editor for most juried and book branding workshop participants (*fundamentals of creative writing, poetry and screenwriting students will have two alternative activities instead of one-on-one consultations)
- Social activities such as guided hikes, open mics and informal gatherings.
If you need assistance with the online form, contact Ivy Chalmers: ivy.chalmers@aspeninstitute.org or 970.925.3122 ext. 5.
Manuscripts
If selected to attend Summer Words, you will submit up to two manuscripts during registration—one for workshop and one for consultations. The manuscripts may be taken from the same piece of writing, or from different pieces.
Workshop Manuscript (15 pages max)*
This is the manuscript that will be shared with your instructor and fellow workshop participants for review and critique at Summer Words. This does not have to be the same manuscript that you submitted with your application, but it can be, if you choose. We recommend submitting a sample that you feel can benefit most from the thoughts and feedback of the group, rather than a piece you feel is your strongest work. The manuscript you submit for workshop can also be different from your consultation manuscript. We will distribute workshop manuscripts to each class via email in late May. At that time, you may also receive course requirements, which include specific additional instructions from your faculty leader regarding workshop schedule and extracurricular reading, etc.
*Screenwriting workshop participants can submit up to 35 pages + a one page synopsis
*Generative writing and poetry participants do not need to submit a manuscript for this generative workshop.
Please send questions to ivy.chalmers@aspeninstitute.org
Consultation Manuscript (10 pages max)
This is the manuscript you’ll share with the agent/editor of your choice. Your scheduled appointments will be sent to you in early June.
*Generative writing, poetry and screenwriting students will be offered two alternative programs in lieu of consultations.
Consultations
Professional consultations provide you the opportunity to meet one-on-one with literary agents and editors, hear about the industry, ask for advice, and get feedback on your manuscript. The meetings are meant to enhance your conference experience by exposing you to the business side of publishing. Please know that while occasionally students are selected by agents at Summer Words, it is better to think of these meetings as introductions and a first step in the longer process of finding literary representation.
Juried workshop participants in fiction, memoir, science fiction/fantasy as well as book branding participants are guaranteed two private 15-minute meetings with a literary agent or editor. Generative writing, poetry and screenwriting participants will have two exclusive breakouts activities in lieu of consultations.
The consultation fee is included in the price of tuition. Consultations are assigned through a lottery process prior to Summer Words.
LODGING and TRAVEL
LODGING
- All workshops, panel discussions, faculty readings, craft talks and lunches will take place at the Viewline Resort in Snowmass Village, Colorado.
- A room block has been reserved for Aspen Summer Words participants with a discounted rate of $209 plus resort fees and taxes.
- If you are in need of accessibility, please reach out directly to the Viewline Resort to further discuss accommodations. ADA guestrooms available upon request.
- The Viewline Resort Event Center is fully ADA compliant. To enter the event center, please use the main entrance on the right side. To access the 2nd and 3rd floors, there is an elevator down the hall and around the corner.
- Students accepted to Summer Words will be emailed a link to reserve a room in the Aspen Words block at the Viewline Hotel.
Travel
- Snowmass can be reached by air via the Aspen/Snowmass airport (officially known as the Pitkin County Airport), located 7 miles from the Viewline Resort. Guests at the Viewline can utilize the hotel’s free airport shuttle service. Other airport options include Eagle County Airport (2-hour drive), Grand Junction Regional Airport (2.5-hour drive) or Denver International Airport (4-hour drive). Please check ticket prices when you apply for Summer Words, to confirm estimated travel costs to the conference. Please also note that though the weather in Aspen/Snowmass is typically lovely in June, there can be unexpected travel delays when flying to/from the Pitkin County Airport.
Parking
- Parking is available for free in the numbered lots in Snowmass Village. Lot numbers 7-10 are the closest to the Viewline Resort
Ground Transportation
- The Roaring Fork Transit Authority (RFTA) provides extensive free bus service from Snowmass to Aspen. Snowmass also has a free local shuttle service (Snowmass Village Shuttles) to all major activity areas in Snowmass Village. Shuttles depart every 10 minutes from the shuttle terminal located just below the Snowmass Mall on Daly Lane.www.gosnowmass.com/today
- Uber and Lyft services are limited in Snowmass and the surrounding area. High Mountain Taxi number
Restaurants & Activities
Dining
A light breakfast and lunch, Monday through Friday, are included with your tuition. The Viewline Resort’s executive chef prepares delicious, healthy, buffet-style meals with a variety of options. Also included in your tuition is a welcome BBQ at the Viewline Resort on June 23 and a closing reception with drinks and heavy apps.
For other meals, Stark’s Alpine Grill and the Viewline Resort lobby bar offer breakfast and dinners daily. First Chair Coffeehouse serves breakfast and lunch daily.
Explore more Snowmass dining options here.
Rooms at the Viewline Resort don’t have kitchens, so budget for daily food costs (dinner) that could range from $25-$75, depending on where you dine. A grocery store, Clark’s Market, is located 0.9 miles from the Viewline.
Activities
Snowmass Village has a wide variety of activities for you to enjoy while you are at the conference. We encourage you to get out and about in the afternoons and evenings. See a list of all activities here.
Anderson Ranch Arts Center
Founded in 1966, Anderson Ranch Arts Center is a premier destination for art making and critical dialog in the contemporary art world, bringing together aspiring and internationally renowned artists to discuss and further their work in a stimulating environment. With a campus that is free and open to the public and an extensive array of in-person and online offerings, Anderson Ranch is a hub of creative energy and activity for adults and children alike, with a host of virtual and interactive art workshops, lectures by today’s most influential artists and curators, weekend classes, children’s art workshops and more. www.andersonranch.org
Aspen Snowmass / Roaring Fork IMBA Gold-Level Ride
Center
Snowmass, along with the rest of the Roaring Fork Valley, is the first IMBA Gold-Level Ride Center™ in Colorado, as designated by the International Mountain Biking Association. The IMBA Gold-Level designation, the top award for mountain biking destinations, offers mountain bike enthusiasts more than 300 miles of high quality singletrack from Aspen and Snowmass to Basalt, Carbondale, and Glenwood Springs. Guests riding in Snowmass and the Roaring Fork Valley can take their pick of adventure, from lift-served gravity trails in the Snowmass Bike Park and expert-only long rides, to family-friendly trails and backcountry adventures. The Aspen Snowmass / Roaring Fork IMBA Gold-Level Ride Center is the first Gold-Level Ride Center in Colorado, only the fifth in United States, and among seven in the world. Rides vary for all age and skill levels. www.bikesnowmass.com
Blazing Adventures
With 44 years of experience specializing in outdoor activities in Colorado, Blazing Adventures coordinates winter activities such as hot balloon rides, dog sledding tours, backcountry powder tours, scenic drive tours, winter fly-fishing in Gold Medal rivers, snowmobiling up to the Maroon Bells, backcountry snowshoe tours, and much more. www.blazingadventures.com
The Collective Snowmass
The Collective Snowmass, the hub for community events in Snowmass. Offerings are free and ticketed, depending on the event. For more information, please visit thecollectivesnowmass.com
Fly-Fishing
The 70-mile Roaring Fork River offers the largest stretch of Colorado’s Gold Medal waters, ideal for fly-fishing. The Frying Pan River, which originates east of Snowmass, also boasts Gold Medal status and is a haven for those looking to catch Brown, Rainbow, and Cutthroat Trout. www.gosnowmass.com/activity/fly-fishing/
Hiking
Snowmass has 90+ miles of hiking trails, and 2.8 million acres of adjacent wilderness to be explored, providing accessible and scenic hiking for all abilities. Visit www.hikesnowmass.com to plan a curated hike for any ability.
Lost Forest
The Lost Forest isn’t hard to find — it’s just hard to see. Tucked in among the trees and rocks at the top of the Elk Camp Gondola are the Breathtaker Alpine Coaster, Treeline Trial Challenge Course, Canopy Run Zipline, and Rugged Ascent Climbing Wall. In addition, the Lost Forest operates as a home base for fishing, hiking, and disc golf. www.aspensnowmass.com/plan-your-stay/lost-forest
The Rink
The Rink, located in the core of Snowmass Base Village, transforms into a summer activity lawn, complete with free family fun games and pop-up kids’ fountain flowing into small pools. www.thecollectivesnowmass.com
Shopping & Dining
With 40 restaurants and 40 shops in Snowmass Village, Snowmass offers something for every taste and style.
Snowmass Mountain Mission
The Snowmass Mountain Mission is an app based, village-wide scavenger hunt designed to challenge creativity, test Snowmass knowledge, and enhance selfie skills. Download the free Eventzee app from the App Store, enter an email, username and password, and the event code: Snowmass. Hit different point thresholds to win fun Snowmass prizes. www.gosnowmass.com/snowmass-mountain-mission
Snowmass Recreation Center
The 18,000-square-feet recreation facility offers unique programming for adults and children, year-round outdoor saline pools, a state-of-the-art cardio and weight room, an indoor gymnasium, aerobics classes, climbing & bouldering walls, and more. www.snowmassrecreation.com
Spa Time
The Viewline Resort Snowmass includes the new Ayurvedic focused Lupine Spa, featuring Sundri products during massages, facials, and signature treatments. The luxurious 7,000-square-foot Spa at the Viceroy Snowmass offers selection of holistic wellness experiences, from Ute Indian-inspired therapies to contemporary beauty rituals. Alux Spalon in Snowmass Base Village and on the Snowmass Mall offers treatments for hair, nails, facials and waxing. www.gosnowmass.com/things-to-do/retail-services
Sunset Tuesdays
Enjoy beautiful summer evenings at Elk Camp with complimentary gondola rides up the mountain, Lost Forest and other outdoor family activities. https://www.aspensnowmass.com/visit/activities/summer/sunset-tuesdays-at-elk-camp
Thursday Free Concerts
This long-standing summer tradition and local favorite returns to Fanny Hill every Thursday evening. This may be the best way to enjoy some of the country’s best live bands in a relaxed atmosphere with a spectacular mountain backdrop. https://www.gosnowmass.com/activity/summer-music-series/
Wild West Rodeo
Celebrating its 50th season in 2024, the Snowmass Rodeo is the longest running rodeo in Colorado. This authentic western event takes place every Wednesday evening in the summers through mid-August. Visitors can check out exciting competitions like saddle bronc and bull riding, team roping, and barrel racing. Children can participate in the Calf Scramble and Mutton Busting. http://www.snowmassrodeo.org/
Whitewater Rafting
The nearby Roaring Fork and Colorado Rivers offer easy access to Class I to Class IV river experiences – from whitewater rafting to kayaking to stand up paddle boarding. www.gosnowmass.com/activity/whitewater-rafting/
Schedule
Summer Words Schedule
SUNDAY, JUNE 23
5:00 p.m.: Summer Words begins with an all-conference orientation session, welcome dinner + faculty readings!
MONDAY, JUNE 24-THURSDAY, JUNE 27
MORNING
7:00-8:00 a.m. Yoga
8:00-9:00 a.m.: Breakfast is served at the Viewline Resort
9:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m.: Daily workshops*
*Author branding, generative writing and readers retreat meet from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
LUNCH
12:00-1 p.m.: Lunch is served at the Viewline Resort
AFTERNOON
1:00-3:30 p.m.: Publishing consultations (Tuesday through Thursday)
Craft Talks + Panel Discussions:
Monday, June 24, 1:30-2:30 p.m.
Publishing Pathways: Understanding the Industry
Speakers: Michelle Brower, Sophie Cudd, Dawn Davis, Aram Fox
Moderator: Lisa Sharkey
Tuesday, June 25, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
How Stories Stand: Crafting Narrative Architecture through Structure, POV, and Time
Speakers: Karen Lord, Will Schwalbe, Jim Shepard
Moderator: Regina Brooks
Wednesday, June 26, 3:30-4:00 p.m.
Craft Talk: From Life to Page: Harnessing Experience to Inform Your Writing (no matter the genre)
Speaker: Martha McPhee
Wednesday, June 26, 4:10-4:40 p.m.
Craft Talk: Conversation in Motion: Dialogue & Gesture in Character Development
Speaker: Peter Orner
Thursday, June 27 3:00-4:00 p.m.
Craft Talk: The Plot Thickens: Creating Narratives that Hook Readers
Speakers: Kelly Fremon Craig, Angie Kim
Thursday, June 27 4:15-5:30 p.m.
Drawing to a Close: Sustaining Inspiration Beyond the Conference
Speakers: Mahogany Browne, Angie Kim, Jim Shepard, Karen Shepard
Moderator: Adrienne Brodeur
Social Activities:
June 24, 3:30-5:00 p.m.: Hike
June 24, 6:00-7:30 p.m.: Game night
June 25, 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.: Farm-to-table dinner @ Elk Camp
June 26, 5:30-7:30 p.m.: Open mic night
June 27, 5:45-6:40 p.m.: Closing reception
FRIDAY, JUNE 28
8-11 a.m.: Workshop
Conference concludes after workshops. Safe travels!
Covid-19 Health & Safety Standards
Covid Policy
By registering and participating in Summer Words, you understand there is an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 in any public place where people are present, and you voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19.
We strongly encourage all those who attend Summer Words to be up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccinations, as defined by the CDC. Masks are welcome but not required. If you need a mask, we can provide one to you. Instructors may request participants wear masks during workshops.
Please note that these protocols are subject to change, based on revised guidance from the CDC as this pandemic evolves, and/or from the local jurisdictions in which events are being held.
Aspen Words will update you with specific information you may need should our standards change, including any additional enhancements to our standard protocols or modifications selected for that event.
Community Agreement
Community Agreement
The Aspen Institute is dedicated to advancing a free, just and equitable society. Consistent with that mission, the Institute is committed to creating a safe and vibrant community that is respectful, inclusive and welcoming to people from all different backgrounds and across the world. We recognize people will have different viewpoints and perspectives. However, only when we treat people with mutual respect and dignity can we truly come together to share a free and open exchange of ideas. So we offer this Community Agreement as a code of conduct to help stakeholders understand what we expect for them when they are engaging with the Institute community, as well as to guide them on what does not belong. If we all follow this Community Agreement, we can ensure everyone feels empowered to participate and further promote intellectual growth and curiosity. In addition, Aspen Words offers Summer Words Principles that provides additional information and expectations for all participants.
FAQS FOR STUDENTS
Whether this is your first time at Summer Words, or you make the pilgrimage each year, this is the place to find answers to the many questions that might pop up while planning your trip. If you don’t find the answer to your question here please email Ivy Chalmers: ivy.chalmers@aspeninstitute.org or call 970.925.3122 ext. 5.
Q. Should I fly into Denver or Aspen/Snowmass? How far is Denver?
A. The Aspen/Snowmass airport is 7 miles from Snowmass Village and the conference site.
- Since flights into the Aspen airport can be costly, you might also consider flying into Eagle County airport (2-hour drive to Snowmass Village), Grand Junction airport (2.5-hour drive to Snowmass Village), or the Denver airport (4-hour drive to Snowmass Village).
Please be sure to check the cost of flights when applying and note that although the weather in Aspen/Snowmass is typically beautiful in June, there can be weather-related delays when traveling to and from the Pitkin County Airport. Visit our Lodging and Travel page for more details
Q. Where is the Viewline Resort?
A. The Viewline Resort is located at 100 Elbert Lane, Snowmass Village, CO 81615.
Q. Where should I stay?
A. All conference activities including workshops, lunches and panels will take place at the Viewline Resort. We recommend staying at the Viewline in order to be close to other participants, faculty and events. A room block has been reserved for Summer Words participants with a discounted rate of $209 plus resort fee and taxes.
Q. Where should I eat?
A. A light breakfast and lunch, Monday through Friday, are included with your tuition. The Viewline Resort’s executive chef prepares delicious, healthy, buffet-style meals with a variety of options. Also included in your tuition is a welcome BBQ at the Viewline Resort on June 23 as well as a closing reception with drinks and heavy apps. For other meals, Stark’s Alpine Grill and the Viewline Resort lobby bar offer breakfast and dinners daily. First Chair Coffeehouse serves breakfast and lunch daily. Explore the more dining options here.
Q. Where will my workshop meet?
A. All workshops will meet at the Viewline Resort. The exact location of your workshop will be included in your registration materials.
Q. Will I need my computer?
A. You do not need to bring a laptop to your workshop, but you are welcome to if you prefer to make notes on a computer rather than a notebook. You may want your laptop for writing in the hours outside of your workshop, or to access some of your work while you are here.
Q. What should I wear?
A. Summer Words is casual. Jeans and informal attire are appropriate for workshops, receptions, panels and other events. Summer mornings and evenings can be quite cool in Snowmass Village, while the days are typically around 70-75 degrees. We suggest packing lots of layers, including a jacket, as cool weather is always a possibility.
Q. What should I do about altitude sickness?
A. Snowmass Village is 8,000 feet above sea level. Please remember to drink plenty of water as your body will be more dehydrated. Be careful when drinking alcohol as the combination of altitude and dehydration can cause alcohol to act faster. Apply plenty of sunscreen and lip balm. It’s common for visitors coming from sea level to experience headaches and shortness of breath the first couple of days at high elevation. You can find some great advice on dealing with altitude here.
Q. What are Aspen Words’ health and safety standards for conference attendees?
A. By registering and participating in Aspen Summer Words, you understand that there is an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 in any public place where people are present and you voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19.
We strongly encourage all those who attend Aspen Summer Words to be up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccinations, as defined by the CDC. Masks are welcome but not required. If you need a mask, we can provide one to you. Instructors may request participants wear masks during workshops.
Please note that these protocols are subject to change, based on revised guidance from the CDC as this pandemic evolves, and/or from the local jurisdictions in which events are being held.
Aspen Words will update you with specific information you may need should our standards change, including any additional enhancements to our standard protocols or modifications selected for that event.
Q. Will I have time to write/hike/explore on my own or with family/friends?
A. Write: Yes! All afternoon and evening activities are optional, and you are welcome to use this time to write.
Hike: Yes! We will have at least two guided hiking opportunities. In addition, Snowmass has 90+ miles of hiking trails, and 2.8 million acres of adjacent wilderness to be explored, providing accessible and scenic hiking for all abilities. Visit www.hikesnowmass.com to plan a curated hike for any ability.
Explore: Yes! Snowmass offers a lot to see and do and we encourage you to take advantage. Please visit our Activities page for more information.
Q. Can I bring my spouse/partner/friend/child?
A. You are welcome to bring friends or family to join you on your trip to Snowmass. While you are in your morning workshop, they will find plenty to do: mountain biking, hiking, reading by the pool, etc. Your friends and family are also welcome to join us for the afternoon panels and can purchase a public pass on our website in mid-May. A complete list of public events and ticket information will be available then. Opening Night diner and lunches are open to Summer Words students only.
Cancellation Policy
If you need to cancel, we will refund half of the workshop tuition until May 20. We cannot refund cancellations after May 20.
Should a faculty member cancel for Aspen Summer Words, Aspen Words is committed to finding a replacement faculty member who meets our high standard for both teaching expertise, as well as writing acclaim. No refunds will be extended following May 20 due to changes to the faculty roster.
- 2026 Faculty + Workshops
-
Juried applications will open for everyone on January 12, 2026, and will close on February 26, 2026.
2026 Summer Words Writer’s Conference faculty lineup
JURIED WORKSHOPS INCLUDED:
Fiction: Jamel Brinkley
Fiction: Christopher Castellani
Fiction: Jade Chang
Memoir: Brian BroomeMemoir: Meghan O’Rourke
Sci-Fi/Fantasy: Lev GrossmanJURIED WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS
AND FACULTY BIOS
FICTION | Jamel Brinkley
Jamel Brinkley bio coming soon!Workshop Description
coming soon!
FICTION | Christopher Castellani
Christopher Castellani is the author of four novels, most recently “Leading Men,”for which he received fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, MacDowell and the Massachusetts Cultural Council, among others. His book of essays on narration in fiction, “The Art of Perspective: Who Tells the Story,” was published by Graywolf in 2016, and is taught in many writing workshops. Christopher is a longtime member of the faculty and academic board of the Warren Wilson MFA program and the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference, and he currently chairs the writing panel for the National YoungArts Foundation. In 2015, Christopher was awarded the Barnes and Noble/Poets & Writers “Writer for Writers” Award in recognition of his contributions to the literary community and his generosity toward fellow writers. For his latest novel, “Last Seen”(Viking, February 2026), he was awarded a Literature Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. Christopher is the current Writer-in-Residence at Brandeis University and lives in Boston and Provincetown. Castellar will be teaching a fiction workshop. Workshop Description
Coming soon!
FICTION | Jade Chang
Jade Chang’s debut novel, “Wangs vs. the World,” won the VCU Cabell First Novelist Award and has been published in a dozen countries. Her new novel, “What a Time to Be Alive,” was published in September 2025. Her journalism and essays have recently appeared in The Best American Food Writing, and in the New York Times and Los Angeles Times magazines. She also writes for film and TV. Jade has taught writing workshops since 2018 as The Midwives of Invention, with author and podcast pioneer Ann Friedman. Chang will be teaching a fictionWorkshop Description
coming soon!
SCI-FI/FANTASY | Lev Grossman
The writer Lev Grossman (USA), Brooklyn, New York, September 23, 2020. Photograph © Beowulf Sheehan Lev Grossman is the author of eight novels including The Bright Sword, which was a New York Times Notable Book of 2024, and the #1 New York Times bestselling Magicians trilogy, which has been published in thirty countries and adapted for television. He’s also a bestselling children’s author (The Silver Arrow), a screenwriter (The Map of Tiny Perfect Things, which was a Critics Choice Award finalist), and an award-winning journalist — he spent 15 years as the book critic for Time magazine, and his essays and criticism have appeared in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Vanity Fair, the Atlantic, Slate, the Week, the Believer, Wired, and many other places. Grossman will be teaching a fantasy/sci-fi workshop.
Workshop description
coming soon!
MEMOIR | Brian Broome
Brian Broome, a poet and screenwriter, is the author of “Punch Me Up to the Gods.” He is K. Leroy Irvis Fellow and instructor in the Writing Program at the University of Pittsburgh. Broome has been a finalist in The Moth storytelling competition and won the grand prize in Carnegie Mellon University’s Martin Luther King Writing Awards. He also won a VANN Award from the Pittsburgh Black Media Federation for journalism in 2019. Broome lives in Pittsburgh. Broome will be teaching a memoir workshop.
Workshop Description
coming soon!
MEMOIR | Meghan O’Rourke
Meghan O’Rourke is the author of the New York Times bestseller “The Invisible Kingdom: Reimagining Chronic Illness,” a finalist for the National Book Award, and the bestselling memoir “The Long Goodbye,” as well as three poetry collections including “Sun in Days,” a Washington Post Top Ten Book of the Year. She is the executive editor of The Yale Review and a former editor at The New Yorker. A Guggenheim Fellow, Radcliffe Fellow and recipient of the Whiting Nonfiction Award, she has taught creative writing at Princeton and in the NYU MFA programs. She is now Professor in the Practice of Creative Writing and executive editor at The Yale Review. O’Rourke will be teaching a memoir workshop.
Workshop Description
Details coming soon!
- Non-Juried Workshops
-
NON -JURIED WORKSHOPS
Generative Writing: Karen Shepard
Inside the World of Book Publishing & Author Branding: Lisa Sharkey
Readers Retreat: Will SchwalbeAll workshops will be held at the Viewline Resort in Snowmass (100 Elbert Lane Snowmass Village, CO).
*If you are interested in financial aid for the Generative Writing workshop, please contact ivy.chalmers@aspeninstitute.org.
NON-JURIED WORKSHOPS
GENERATIVE WRITING | Karen Shepard
Karen Shepard
Karen Shepard is a Chinese-American born and raised in New York City. She is the author of four novels, “An Empire of Women,” “The Bad Boy’s Wife,”
Don’t I Know You?”, and “The Celestials,” which was short-listed for the Massachusetts Book Award and the William Saroyan International Prize for Writing. Her most recent book is a collection of short stories, “Kiss Me Someone,” which was shortlisted for the Story Prize. Her short fiction has been published in The Atlantic Monthly, Tin House, One Story, and Ploughshares, among others. Her nonfiction has appeared in O Magazine, Buzzfeed, More, Self, USA Today, and The Boston Globe, among others. She has received the William Goyen-Doris Roberts Fellowship for Fiction, was a National Magazine Award Finalist, and was a recipient of a Massachusetts Cultural Council Artist Grant. She teaches writing and literature at Williams College in Williamstown, MA.Workshop Description
A stranger is sitting on a stool at a bar, minding her own business. You approach and say, “Can I tell you a story?” The stranger gives you a look and says, warily, “Okay.” How do you keep that stranger on the barstool? In this generative workshop, we’ll spend five mornings discussing short published work as examples of how others have solved some of the challenges we’re all facing, and then we’ll practice some of the skills necessary to meet those challenges through in-class writing prompts followed by discussion. Writers will leave with new work and new strategies to pursue as well as a better understanding of how to identify and articulate what we’re doing on the page. Some brief (and wonderful) advance reading required.
INSIDE THE WORLD OF BOOK PUBLISHING & AUTHOR BRANDING | Lisa Sharkey
Lisa Sharkey
Lisa Sharkey, SVP and Director of Creative Development at Harper Collins Publishers, was recently described by one of her authors, number one bestseller Congressman Jamie Raskin as a “clairvoyant publishing wizard,” Following more than two decades producing, writing and developing Emmy award-winning network and syndicated television news, Lisa made the switch into books because of her love for literature, storytelling, and going deep.
Sharkey is a champion of powerful, poignant, and persuasive storytelling. More than 75 of the books she has published have become New York Times bestsellers, selling millions of copies in multiple languages across the globe over the past 15 years. Her authors have accomplished extraordinary things and changed the world by telling their stories. Sharkey publishes books in the categories of politics, journalism, true crime, music, sports, medicine, self-help, cooking, mindfulness, science, religion, military life, and inspirational memoir. Sharkey is a mother of three, a yoga teacher, and a mentor of military veterans who are transitioning into civilian life.
She lives in one of New York’s first ever eco houses that she designed along with her architect husband who co-authored their book “Dreaming Green.”
Workshop Description – New for 2024
Inside the World of Book Publishing & Author Branding
Explore the intricacies of book publishing from concept to publication and discover how to develop your unique author brand. In this engaging 3-hour daily workshop, Monday through Thursday, you’ll gain insights into the publishing process and receive personalized guidance to enhance your author identity. With homework assignments tailored to each participant, you’ll learn to navigate the dynamic publishing landscape.
READERS RETREAT | Will Schwalbe
Will Schwalbe
Will Schwalbe is the author of “The End of Your Life Book Club,” which was a #1 Indie Next pick, an Entertainment Weekly Best Book of the Year, and spent nine weeks on the New York Timesbestseller list. He has worked in digital media; in book publishing; and as a journalist, writing for various publications, including the New York Times and the South China Morning Post. He is also the author of “Send” (co-written with David Shipley) and “Books for Living.” His most recent book, “We Should Not Be Friends: The Story of a Friendship,” was published in February 2023. Will lives in New York City.
Note: The Readers Retreat meets Monday, June 24 to Wednesday, June 26 from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. The welcome dinner on Sunday evening as well as breakfasts and lunches are included in your tuition.
Workshop Description
Will Schwalbe, author of the New York Times bestseller The End of Your Life Book Club, will lead discussions about the unique power of books to shape our lives in an era of constant connectivity, with special attention on the role that reading can play to help us make sense of the world, become better people, and find answers to the big (and small) questions we all face about how best to life our lives. Many of the selections are from writers whose work he explored in his book Books for Living and range from poetry to fiction to memoir and even cookbooks, each relating to questions and concerns we all share. Over the course of three days we’ll be discussing George Orwell, Edna Lewis, Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Lin Yutang, Robert Benchley, Marie Howe, and a variety of other authors, while we celebrate reading for its own delights and as a way to help us live each day more fully.
Archives
- 2025 Agents + Editors
-
Professional consultations provide you the opportunity to meet one-on-one with literary agents and editors, hear about the industry, ask for advice, and get feedback on your manuscript. The meetings are meant to enhance your conference experience by exposing you to the business side of publishing. Please know that while occasionally students are selected by agents at Summer Words, it is better to think of these meetings as introductions and a first step in the longer process of finding literary representation.
Juried workshop participants in fiction, memoir, science fiction/fantasy as well as book branding participants are guaranteed two private 15-minute meetings with a literary agent or editor. Generative writing, poetry and screenwriting participants will have two exclusive breakouts activities in lieu of consultations.
EDITOR | Amy Guay
Amy Guay is an assistant editor at Avid Reader Press. They are passionate about writing that unites a strong, singular voice with emotional depth and precision. In both fiction and nonfiction, they are drawn to confident sentences, a wry, wise sense of humor, and an attention to the relationships we have with others and ourselves. Their titles include Greta & Valdin by Rebecca K Reilly, and the forthcoming Convent Wisdom by Ana Garriga and Carmen Urbita and I Am Agatha by Nancy Foley. They have also assisted on bestselling and critically acclaimed titles by Chloé Cooper Jones, Myriam Gurba, Patricia Engel, and more. They grew up in Sarasota, Florida, and graduated with a B.A. in American Studies from Georgetown University. AGENT | Kayla Lightner
Kayla Lightner (she/her) is a literary agent at Ayesha Pande Literary, which she joined in 2020 after starting her career at Liza Dawson Associates. Her clients include award-winners such as Annabelle Tometich, Mary Kay McBrayer, Minda Honey, and more. An adventurous reader who values fearless curiosity, Kayla is looking for adult literary fiction and narrative nonfiction that can masterfully straddle the line between storytelling and teaching readers something new (about the world or themselves). On the fiction side: that includes bold, incisive speculative fiction and historical re-imaginings that challenge the idea that history is written by the victors. On the nonfiction side: that includes singular memoirs, thoroughly-researched journalism/reportage, and hidden histories. After managing APL’s subrights department for several years, Kayla is particularly excited by projects with legs in multiple formats (film, television, translation, etc). You can find her complete manuscript wishlist here. Kayla is a Georgia native and earned her B.A. in English from Vassar College. When not reading, she can be found reminiscing on her rugby days or writing. Her work has appeared in several publications and has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize, Best Small Fictions, Wigleaf’s Top 50, and Best of the Net.
EDITOR | Rakesh Satyal
Rakesh Satyal is the author of the novels Blue Boy and No One Can Pronounce My Name. Blue Boy received a Lambda Literary Award and the Prose/Poetry Award from the Association of Asian American Studies and is being developed as a film by the writer and actor Nik Dodani. No One Can Pronounce My Name was nominated for the Dublin Literary Award. Satyal is currently an Executive Editor at the HarperOne Group/HarperCollins, where his authors include Michael Arceneaux, Common, Megan Garber, Megan Giddings, Sonora Jha, Daniel Lavery, Paul Lisicky, Graham Norton, and Ari Shapiro. He lives in New York City.
AGENT | Michael Taeckens
Michael Taeckens is a literary agent at Massie & McQuilkin and the co-founder of Broadside PR. He received his MFA from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, and has been working in publishing since 1995. His agenting clients include Elizabeth McCracken, Edward Carey, Forrest Gander and Dina Nayeri. During his tenure at Broadside PR (founded in 2015), his clients have been awarded and shortlisted for the Pulitzer Prize, National Book Award, Booker Prize, National Book Critics Circle Award, PEN America Literary Award, Whiting Award, International Dublin Award, Windham-Campbell Prize, Women’s Prize, Story Prize, L.A. Times Book Prize, Young Lions Award, Lambda Literary Award, NAACP Image Award, and the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize.
AGENT | Sally Wofford-Girand
Sally Wofford-Girand is a founding partner of Union Literary, LLC. Her particular areas of interest are: fiction that is both literary and gripping and non-fiction that is equally rich and compelling. Favorite authors include Amor Towles, Barbara Kingsolver (Demon Copperhead!), Kate Atkinson, Elizabeth Strout, Lydia Yukovich, Jose Saramago, and Wallace Stegner. She is a hands-on agent with a passion for great storytelling. She works with novelists Vanessa Diffenbaugh, Jenny Offill, Alyson Richman, Laura McHugh, Debra Magpie Earling, Joe Wilkins, et al, non fiction writers include Michael Frank and Kate Braestrup. She is proud to represent the estates of Grace Paley, James Welch and David Markson. She loves the thrill of discovery in working with debut novelists. She is looking for sophisticated suspense, crime, literary horror and important non-fiction (Empire of Pain being a prime example of important non-fiction). Sally is a founder of the non-profit Literary Agents of Change and a board member of Writers Omi, an international writers colony in New York State. She lives in NYC with her husband and sometimes her three children.
- Financial Aid
-
Financial Aid
General Scholarships: Aspen Words offers a limited number of partial and full tuition scholarships based on merit and financial need. General scholarships cover tuition only. Recipients are responsible for travel, lodging and meals (excluding breakfast and lunch). Please complete the financial aid section of the application to apply for a scholarship. Acceptance into a workshop does not necessarily mean an automatic scholarship.
Scholarships for Roaring Fork Valley Writers (Aspen to Parachute)
Thanks to the generosity of Arny and Anne Porath, these two merit-based scholarships cover tuition and lodging. Please indicate on your application that you would like to apply for this opportunity.
Emerging Writer Fellowships:
In its commitment to support new literary voices, Aspen Words provides Summer Words fellowships to emerging writers who demonstrate exceptional talent and promise. Candidates are nominated by writers, agents, editors and others associated with publishing. Last year, we received over 150 nominations. Fellows receive a full scholarship to the Summer Words conference, including tuition, airfare, lodging and some meals.We do not accept self-nominations. If you are interested in being nominated, please have a colleague, teacher or mentor who is familiar with your work request the nomination form. Fellowship nominees will be notified of their acceptance prior to the deadline for the general application process (so that they will still have the opportunity to apply in the general round if not accepted for one of the ten fellowships).
Note: Our Emerging Writer Fellowship program is designed to give exceptional writers at the early stages of their careers a boost in the literary community and the publishing world. Writers with books under contract, or who have already had a book-length work published prior to Summer Words by a major publisher or an independent press that publishes more than 10 books per year are not eligible for this scholarship. Applicants may have had stories or novel excerpts published in magazines, literary journals or online, but this is not a requirement. Please email Ivy Chalmers at ivy.chalmers@aspeninstitute.org with questions.
Outside funding:
Please check with your educational institution or employer for additional grant or professional development funding options to attend Summer Words. - Gallery
-
- Manuscripts
-
Manuscript Guidelines for Juried Workshop Applications
Please submit manuscripts in the following format: Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx), double spaced, 12 pt. Times New Roman font, regular (1″) margins
For fiction, memoir, and sci-fi/fantasy applications – 10 pages maximum, no cover pages
Note: If your submission is an excerpt from a longer piece, please submit the first 10 pages with a brief synopsis. Synopses are included in the 10-page limit but can be single spaced.For screenwriting applications – please submit a PDF that is 35 pages maximum + 1 page synopsis
DO NOT INCLUDE YOUR NAME ANYWHERE ON THE MANUSCRIPT
SUBMISSIONS NOT FOLLOWING GUIDELINES WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
If selected to attend Summer Words, you will submit up to two manuscripts during registration—one for workshop and one for consultations. The manuscripts may be taken from the same piece of writing, or from different pieces.
Workshop Manuscript (15 pages max)*
This is the manuscript that will be shared with your instructor and fellow workshop participants for review and critique at Summer Words. This does not have to be the same manuscript that you submitted with your application, but it can be, if you choose. We recommend submitting a sample that you feel can benefit most from the thoughts and feedback of the group, rather than a piece you feel is your strongest work. The manuscript you submit for workshop can also be different from your consultation manuscript. We will distribute workshop manuscripts to each class via DropBox in late May. At that time, you may also receive course requirements, which include specific additional instructions from your faculty leader regarding workshop schedule and extracurricular reading, etc.
*Screenwriting workshop participants can submit up to 35 pages + a one page synopsis
*Generative writing do not need to submit a manuscript for this generative workshop.
Please send questions to ivy.chalmers@aspeninstitute.org
Consultation Manuscript (10 pages max)
This is the manuscript you’ll share with the agent/editor of your choice. Your scheduled appointments will be sent to you in early June.
*Generative writing and screenwriting students will be offered two alternative programs in lieu of consultations.
Consultation Manuscript (10 pages max)
This is the manuscript you’ll share with the agent/editor of your choice. Your scheduled appointments will be sent to you in early June.
*Generative writing and screenwriting students will be offered two alternative programs in lieu of consultations.
Formatting Guidelines
Carefully read the following instructions:
- Both workshop and consultation manuscripts should be formatted as Word Documents (.doc or .docx), double-spaced, Times New Roman, 12pt font. 1 -in (normal) margins.
- If it is an excerpt from a longer work, include a synopsis on the first page (synopsis may be single-spaced but should be included in the total page count).
- Put your name on the first page and number the pages.
-
For Workshop Manuscripts, please label your file “FIRST INITIAL LAST NAME_INSTRUCTOR” (For example “ICHALMERS_BRENYAH)
-
For Consultation Manuscripts, please label your file “FIRST INITIAL LAST NAME_CONSULTATION” (For example “ICHALMERS_CONSULTATION)
- We will circulate your manuscripts to all relevant parties several weeks in advance of Summer Words to ensure everyone has sufficient time to carefully read your work.
- Emerging Writer Fellowships
-
Applications for EWF will open on Dec. 10, 2025 and close Jan. 12, 2025. Fellows will be announced in February. Please email Ivy Chalmers (ivy.chalmers@aspeninstitute.org) with questions.
In our commitment to support new literary voices, Aspen Words provides Summer Words fellowships to emerging writers who demonstrate exceptional talent and promise. Candidates are nominated by writers, agents, editors and others associated with publishing. We receive over 150 nominations annually. Fellows receive a full scholarship to the Summer Words conference, including tuition, airfare, shared lodging and some meals.
We do not accept self-nominations for the Emerging Writer Fellowship (EWF). If you are interested in being nominated, please have a colleague, teacher or mentor who is familiar with your work request the nomination form. Fellowship nominees will be notified of their acceptance prior to the deadline for the general application process (so that they will still have the opportunity to apply in the general round if not accepted for one of the fellowships).
The EWF program is designed to give exceptional writers at the early stages of their careers a boost in the literary community and the publishing world. Writers with books under contract, or who have already had a book-length work published prior to Summer Words by a major publisher or an independent press that publishes more than 10 books per year are not eligible for this scholarship. Applicants may have had stories or novel excerpts published in magazines, literary journals or online, but this is not a requirement.
The 2026 Emerging Writer Fellowships workshops will be announced soon!
-
Summer Words 2025 Schedule
Summer Words Schedule
SUNDAY, JUNE 22
5:00 p.m.: Summer Words begins with an all-conference orientation session, welcome dinner + faculty readings!
MONDAY, JUNE 23-THURSDAY, JUNE 26
MORNING
8:00-9:00 a.m.: Breakfast is served at the Viewline Resort
9:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m.: Daily workshops*
*Generative writing meets from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Book Branding meets from 9:00-11:00am, M-F
LUNCH
11:30-1 p.m.: Lunch is served at the Viewline Resort
AFTERNOON
12:30-3 p.m.: Agent and Editor Meetings (Tuesday and Wednesday)
12-2:30 p.m. Agent and Editor Meetings (Thursday)
Panel Discussions:
Monday, June 23, 1:30-2:30 p.m.
Publishing Unpacked: What Every Writer Needs to Know
From landing an agent to shaping your manuscript, to making sense of marketing, this panel pulls back the curtain on the publishing process. Expect candid insights, smart strategies, and a few myths busted along the way.
Speakers: Michael Taeckens, Satyal Rakesh, Kayla Lightner, Amy Guay
Moderator: Sally Wofford-Girand
Location: Rooftop
Tuesday, June 24, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Narrative Architecture: Structure and POV
Structure and POV shape every story, but how do you choose the right approach? This panel explores how structure enhances theme, how POV builds intimacy and tension, and how both work together to keep readers hooked.
Speakers: Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, Joshua Mohr, Héctor Tobar
Moderator: Mitzi Rapkin
Location: Rooftop
Wednesday, June 25: 8:15-8:45amAsk a Publicist: Informal Q&A with Taryn RoederPop in for a quick breakfast and casual Q&A with Taryn Roeder to get all your burning publicity questions answered!Location: RooftopWednesday, June 25, 3:30-4:00 p.m.
How to Make Plot Your Friend
Plot doesn’t have to be a struggle! In this talk, Steve Almond will demystify how stories build momentum, tension, and emotional payoff—without feeling forced. Expect practical tools and a new perspective on storytelling’s most essential element.
Speaker: Steve Almond
Location: Rooftop
Wednesday, June 25, 4:10-4:40 p.m.
12 Tips to Surviving and Thriving as a Writer That Have (Almost) Nothing to Do with Craft
Writing is an art, but sustaining a writing life is another challenge. Laura Zigman shares twelve hard-won lessons on overcoming self-doubt, redefining success, and staying inspired—even when the words won’t come.
Speaker: Laura Zigman
Location: Rooftop
Thursday, June 26 3:00-4:00 p.m.
Setting the Hook: Creating Characters That Keep Readers Turning the Page
What makes a character unforgettable? This panel explores how to craft multidimensional, flawed, and compelling protagonists (and antagonists!) who linger in readers’ and viewers’ minds long after the last page.
Speakers: P. Djèlí Clark, Christina Lazaridi, Vanessa Chan
Moderator: Breeze Richardson
Location: Rooftop
Thursday, June 26 4:15-5:30 p.m.
Next Chapters: Staying Inspired After Summer Words
What happens after the conference ends? In this closing session, faculty members will reflect on key takeaways from the week, share their own creative routines, and offer advice on maintaining inspiration, discipline, and community in your writing life.
Speakers: Faculty
Moderator: Adrienne Brodeur
Location: Rooftop
Social Activities: (all are welcome, attendance is optional)
June 23, 3-4:30 p.m.: Hike
June 23, 6:00-7:30 p.m.: Game night
June 24, 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.: Farm-to-table dinner @ Elk Camp
June 25, 5-6:30 p.m.: Summer Words Participants’ Open Mic Night
June 26, 5:45-6:30 p.m.: Closing reception
FRIDAY, JUNE 27
7-8 a.m.: Breakfast of yogurt and fruit in Salon A8 a.m.: All workshops start (note the earlier time)10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.: Breakfast burritos to-go in Salon AConference concludes after workshops. Safe travels!
- Student Portal
-
WELCOME 2024 SUMMER WORDS PARTICIPANTS!
This portal contains important information that will help you plan your trip to Snowmass Village for Summer Words. Navigate through the various links on this page for details about travel, lodging and more. Please read this information carefully before completing your tuition payment form and submitting your manuscripts. Additional details will be communicated regarding the schedule and afternoon events as we get closer to June.
We look forward to welcoming you to Summer Words and to our beautiful town in the Rockies!Tuition Payment
Please read these instructions carefully and ensure that you have prepared all requested materials before completing the form included in your acceptance email.
TUITION PAYMENT DEADLINE:
Wednesday, May 1, 2024
- 2024 5-Day Juried Workshops: $1,825
- 2024 5-Day Fundamentals of Creative Writing: $1,825
- 2024 4-Day World of Book Publishing/Author Branding: $1095
- 2024 3-Day Readers Retreat: $585
Tuition Includes:
- Faculty instruction and materials
- Access to all public panels throughout the week
- Breakfast and Lunch at the Viewline Resort (Monday through Friday)
- Opening and closing receptions
- Discounted lodging rates at our conference site, the Viewline Resort in Snowmass Village, Colorado.
- Two professional consultations with an agent and/or editor for most juried and book branding workshop participants (*fundamentals of creative writing, poetry and screenwriting students will have two alternative activities instead of one-on-one consultations)
- Social activities such as guided hikes, open mics and informal gatherings.
If you need assistance with the online form, contact Ivy Chalmers: ivy.chalmers@aspeninstitute.org or 970.925.3122 ext. 5.
Manuscripts
If selected to attend Summer Words, you will submit up to two manuscripts during registration—one for workshop and one for consultations. The manuscripts may be taken from the same piece of writing, or from different pieces.
Workshop Manuscript (15 pages max)*
This is the manuscript that will be shared with your instructor and fellow workshop participants for review and critique at Summer Words. This does not have to be the same manuscript that you submitted with your application, but it can be, if you choose. We recommend submitting a sample that you feel can benefit most from the thoughts and feedback of the group, rather than a piece you feel is your strongest work. The manuscript you submit for workshop can also be different from your consultation manuscript. We will distribute workshop manuscripts to each class via email in late May. At that time, you may also receive course requirements, which include specific additional instructions from your faculty leader regarding workshop schedule and extracurricular reading, etc.
*Screenwriting workshop participants can submit up to 35 pages + a one page synopsis
*Generative writing and poetry participants do not need to submit a manuscript for this generative workshop.
Please send questions to ivy.chalmers@aspeninstitute.org
Consultation Manuscript (10 pages max)
This is the manuscript you’ll share with the agent/editor of your choice. Your scheduled appointments will be sent to you in early June.
*Generative writing, poetry and screenwriting students will be offered two alternative programs in lieu of consultations.
Consultations
Professional consultations provide you the opportunity to meet one-on-one with literary agents and editors, hear about the industry, ask for advice, and get feedback on your manuscript. The meetings are meant to enhance your conference experience by exposing you to the business side of publishing. Please know that while occasionally students are selected by agents at Summer Words, it is better to think of these meetings as introductions and a first step in the longer process of finding literary representation.
Juried workshop participants in fiction, memoir, science fiction/fantasy as well as book branding participants are guaranteed two private 15-minute meetings with a literary agent or editor. Generative writing, poetry and screenwriting participants will have two exclusive breakouts activities in lieu of consultations.
The consultation fee is included in the price of tuition. Consultations are assigned through a lottery process prior to Summer Words.
LODGING and TRAVEL
LODGING
- All workshops, panel discussions, faculty readings, craft talks and lunches will take place at the Viewline Resort in Snowmass Village, Colorado.
- A room block has been reserved for Aspen Summer Words participants with a discounted rate of $209 plus resort fees and taxes.
- If you are in need of accessibility, please reach out directly to the Viewline Resort to further discuss accommodations. ADA guestrooms available upon request.
- The Viewline Resort Event Center is fully ADA compliant. To enter the event center, please use the main entrance on the right side. To access the 2nd and 3rd floors, there is an elevator down the hall and around the corner.
- Students accepted to Summer Words will be emailed a link to reserve a room in the Aspen Words block at the Viewline Hotel.
Travel
- Snowmass can be reached by air via the Aspen/Snowmass airport (officially known as the Pitkin County Airport), located 7 miles from the Viewline Resort. Guests at the Viewline can utilize the hotel’s free airport shuttle service. Other airport options include Eagle County Airport (2-hour drive), Grand Junction Regional Airport (2.5-hour drive) or Denver International Airport (4-hour drive). Please check ticket prices when you apply for Summer Words, to confirm estimated travel costs to the conference. Please also note that though the weather in Aspen/Snowmass is typically lovely in June, there can be unexpected travel delays when flying to/from the Pitkin County Airport.
Parking
- Parking is available for free in the numbered lots in Snowmass Village. Lot numbers 7-10 are the closest to the Viewline Resort
Ground Transportation
- The Roaring Fork Transit Authority (RFTA) provides extensive free bus service from Snowmass to Aspen. Snowmass also has a free local shuttle service (Snowmass Village Shuttles) to all major activity areas in Snowmass Village. Shuttles depart every 10 minutes from the shuttle terminal located just below the Snowmass Mall on Daly Lane.www.gosnowmass.com/today
- Uber and Lyft services are limited in Snowmass and the surrounding area. High Mountain Taxi number
Restaurants & Activities
Dining
A light breakfast and lunch, Monday through Friday, are included with your tuition. The Viewline Resort’s executive chef prepares delicious, healthy, buffet-style meals with a variety of options. Also included in your tuition is a welcome BBQ at the Viewline Resort on June 23 and a closing reception with drinks and heavy apps.
For other meals, Stark’s Alpine Grill and the Viewline Resort lobby bar offer breakfast and dinners daily. First Chair Coffeehouse serves breakfast and lunch daily.Explore more Snowmass dining options here.
Rooms at the Viewline Resort don’t have kitchens, so budget for daily food costs (dinner) that could range from $25-$75, depending on where you dine. A grocery store, Clark’s Market, is located 0.9 miles from the Viewline.
Activities
Snowmass Village has a wide variety of activities for you to enjoy while you are at the conference. We encourage you to get out and about in the afternoons and evenings. See a list of all activities here.
Anderson Ranch Arts Center
Founded in 1966, Anderson Ranch Arts Center is a premier destination for art making and critical dialog in the contemporary art world, bringing together aspiring and internationally renowned artists to discuss and further their work in a stimulating environment. With a campus that is free and open to the public and an extensive array of in-person and online offerings, Anderson Ranch is a hub of creative energy and activity for adults and children alike, with a host of virtual and interactive art workshops, lectures by today’s most influential artists and curators, weekend classes, children’s art workshops and more. www.andersonranch.org
Aspen Snowmass / Roaring Fork IMBA Gold-Level Ride
Center
Snowmass, along with the rest of the Roaring Fork Valley, is the first IMBA Gold-Level Ride Center™ in Colorado, as designated by the International Mountain Biking Association. The IMBA Gold-Level designation, the top award for mountain biking destinations, offers mountain bike enthusiasts more than 300 miles of high quality singletrack from Aspen and Snowmass to Basalt, Carbondale, and Glenwood Springs. Guests riding in Snowmass and the Roaring Fork Valley can take their pick of adventure, from lift-served gravity trails in the Snowmass Bike Park and expert-only long rides, to family-friendly trails and backcountry adventures. The Aspen Snowmass / Roaring Fork IMBA Gold-Level Ride Center is the first Gold-Level Ride Center in Colorado, only the fifth in United States, and among seven in the world. Rides vary for all age and skill levels. www.bikesnowmass.com
Blazing Adventures
With 44 years of experience specializing in outdoor activities in Colorado, Blazing Adventures coordinates winter activities such as hot balloon rides, dog sledding tours, backcountry powder tours, scenic drive tours, winter fly-fishing in Gold Medal rivers, snowmobiling up to the Maroon Bells, backcountry snowshoe tours, and much more. www.blazingadventures.com
The Collective Snowmass
The Collective Snowmass, the hub for community events in Snowmass. Offerings are free and ticketed, depending on the event. For more information, please visit thecollectivesnowmass.com
Fly-Fishing
The 70-mile Roaring Fork River offers the largest stretch of Colorado’s Gold Medal waters, ideal for fly-fishing. The Frying Pan River, which originates east of Snowmass, also boasts Gold Medal status and is a haven for those looking to catch Brown, Rainbow, and Cutthroat Trout. www.gosnowmass.com/activity/fly-fishing/
Hiking
Snowmass has 90+ miles of hiking trails, and 2.8 million acres of adjacent wilderness to be explored, providing accessible and scenic hiking for all abilities. Visit www.hikesnowmass.com to plan a curated hike for any ability.
Lost Forest
The Lost Forest isn’t hard to find — it’s just hard to see. Tucked in among the trees and rocks at the top of the Elk Camp Gondola are the Breathtaker Alpine Coaster, Treeline Trial Challenge Course, Canopy Run Zipline, and Rugged Ascent Climbing Wall. In addition, the Lost Forest operates as a home base for fishing, hiking, and disc golf. www.aspensnowmass.com/plan-your-stay/lost-forest
The Rink
The Rink, located in the core of Snowmass Base Village, transforms into a summer activity lawn, complete with free family fun games and pop-up kids’ fountain flowing into small pools. www.thecollectivesnowmass.com
Shopping & Dining
With 40 restaurants and 40 shops in Snowmass Village, Snowmass offers something for every taste and style.
Snowmass Mountain Mission
The Snowmass Mountain Mission is an app based, village-wide scavenger hunt designed to challenge creativity, test Snowmass knowledge, and enhance selfie skills. Download the free Eventzee app from the App Store, enter an email, username and password, and the event code: Snowmass. Hit different point thresholds to win fun Snowmass prizes. www.gosnowmass.com/snowmass-mountain-mission
Snowmass Recreation Center
The 18,000-square-feet recreation facility offers unique programming for adults and children, year-round outdoor saline pools, a state-of-the-art cardio and weight room, an indoor gymnasium, aerobics classes, climbing & bouldering walls, and more. www.snowmassrecreation.com
Spa Time
The Viewline Resort Snowmass includes the new Ayurvedic focused Lupine Spa, featuring Sundri products during massages, facials, and signature treatments. The luxurious 7,000-square-foot Spa at the Viceroy Snowmass offers selection of holistic wellness experiences, from Ute Indian-inspired therapies to contemporary beauty rituals. Alux Spalon in Snowmass Base Village and on the Snowmass Mall offers treatments for hair, nails, facials and waxing. www.gosnowmass.com/things-to-do/retail-services
Sunset Tuesdays
Enjoy beautiful summer evenings at Elk Camp with complimentary gondola rides up the mountain, Lost Forest and other outdoor family activities. https://www.aspensnowmass.com/visit/activities/summer/sunset-tuesdays-at-elk-camp
Thursday Free Concerts
This long-standing summer tradition and local favorite returns to Fanny Hill every Thursday evening. This may be the best way to enjoy some of the country’s best live bands in a relaxed atmosphere with a spectacular mountain backdrop. https://www.gosnowmass.com/activity/summer-music-series/
Wild West Rodeo
Celebrating its 50th season in 2024, the Snowmass Rodeo is the longest running rodeo in Colorado. This authentic western event takes place every Wednesday evening in the summers through mid-August. Visitors can check out exciting competitions like saddle bronc and bull riding, team roping, and barrel racing. Children can participate in the Calf Scramble and Mutton Busting. http://www.snowmassrodeo.org/
Whitewater Rafting
The nearby Roaring Fork and Colorado Rivers offer easy access to Class I to Class IV river experiences – from whitewater rafting to kayaking to stand up paddle boarding. www.gosnowmass.com/activity/whitewater-rafting/
Schedule
Summer Words Schedule
SUNDAY, JUNE 23
5:00 p.m.: Summer Words begins with an all-conference orientation session, welcome dinner + faculty readings!
MONDAY, JUNE 24-THURSDAY, JUNE 27
MORNING
7:00-8:00 a.m. Yoga
Get Up and Glow: Yoga for Word Lovers*This will be outside– dress warm!Join us for “Get Up and Glow,” a unique yoga experience tailored for authors, editors and word enthusiasts at Aspen Words from Monday, June 24 through Thursday, June 27. This free 45-minute class at 7 am is designed to energize and rejuvenate, blending traditional yoga moves, dynamic workouts inspired by Jane Fonda, mindful guided meditation, invigorating jumps, energy work, and vocalization.No barrier to entry – everyone is welcome, regardless of experience level. This class will help with travel fatigue, digestion, breathing, overall fitness, and flexibility. For a complete experience, bring a yoga mat and a small bottle of essential oil, but don’t worry if you don’t have them – just come as you are and get ready to glow!The class is taught by Lisa Sharkey, a HarperCollins book publisher and certified yoga teacher who has been working with her body and helping others with theirs since the 1980s.8:00-9:00 a.m.: Breakfast is served at the Viewline Resort
9:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m.: Daily workshops*
*Author branding, generative writing and readers retreat meet from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
LUNCH
12:00-1 p.m.: Lunch is served at the Viewline Resort
AFTERNOON
1:00-3:30 p.m.: Publishing consultations (Tuesday through Thursday)
Craft Talks + Panel Discussions:
Monday, June 24, 1:30-2:30 p.m.
Publishing Pathways: Understanding the Industry
Speakers: Michelle Brower, Sophie Cudd, Dawn Davis, Aram Fox
Moderator: Lisa Sharkey
Tuesday, June 25, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
How Stories Stand: Crafting Narrative Architecture through Structure, POV, and Time
Speakers: Karen Lord, Will Schwalbe, Jim Shepard
Moderator: Regina Brooks
Wednesday, June 26, 3:30-4:00 p.m.
Craft Talk: From Life to Page: Harnessing Experience to Inform Your Writing (no matter the genre)
Speaker: Martha McPhee
Wednesday, June 26, 4:10-4:40 p.m.
Craft Talk: Conversation in Motion: Dialogue & Gesture in Character Development
Speaker: Peter Orner
Thursday, June 27 3:00-4:00 p.m.
Craft Talk: The Plot Thickens: Creating Narratives that Hook Readers
Speakers: Kelly Fremon Craig, Angie Kim
Thursday, June 27 4:15-5:30 p.m.
Drawing to a Close: Sustaining Inspiration Beyond the Conference
Speakers: Mahogany Browne, Angie Kim, Jim Shepard, Karen Shepard
Moderator: Adrienne Brodeur
Social Activities:
June 24, 3:30-5:00 p.m.: Hike
June 24, 6:00-7:30 p.m.: Game night
June 25, 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.: Farm-to-table dinner @ Elk Camp
June 26, 5:30-7:30 p.m.: Open mic night
June 27, 5:45-6:40 p.m.: Closing reception
FRIDAY, JUNE 28
8-11 a.m.: Workshop
Conference concludes after workshops. Safe travels!
Covid-19 Health & Safety Standards
Covid Policy
By registering and participating in Summer Words, you understand there is an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 in any public place where people are present, and you voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19.
We strongly encourage all those who attend Summer Words to be up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccinations, as defined by the CDC. Masks are welcome but not required. If you need a mask, we can provide one to you. Instructors may request participants wear masks during workshops.
Please note that these protocols are subject to change, based on revised guidance from the CDC as this pandemic evolves, and/or from the local jurisdictions in which events are being held.
Aspen Words will update you with specific information you may need should our standards change, including any additional enhancements to our standard protocols or modifications selected for that event.Community Agreement
Community Agreement
The Aspen Institute is dedicated to advancing a free, just and equitable society. Consistent with that mission, the Institute is committed to creating a safe and vibrant community that is respectful, inclusive and welcoming to people from all different backgrounds and across the world. We recognize people will have different viewpoints and perspectives. However, only when we treat people with mutual respect and dignity can we truly come together to share a free and open exchange of ideas. So we offer this Community Agreement as a code of conduct to help stakeholders understand what we expect for them when they are engaging with the Institute community, as well as to guide them on what does not belong. If we all follow this Community Agreement, we can ensure everyone feels empowered to participate and further promote intellectual growth and curiosity. In addition, Aspen Words offers Summer Words Principles that provides additional information and expectations for all participants.
FAQS FOR STUDENTS
Whether this is your first time at Summer Words, or you make the pilgrimage each year, this is the place to find answers to the many questions that might pop up while planning your trip. If you don’t find the answer to your question here please email Ivy Chalmers: ivy.chalmers@aspeninstitute.org or call 970.925.3122 ext. 5.
Q. Should I fly into Denver or Aspen/Snowmass? How far is Denver?
A. The Aspen/Snowmass airport is 7 miles from Snowmass Village and the conference site.
- Since flights into the Aspen airport can be costly, you might also consider flying into Eagle County airport (2-hour drive to Snowmass Village), Grand Junction airport (2.5-hour drive to Snowmass Village), or the Denver airport (4-hour drive to Snowmass Village).
Please be sure to check the cost of flights when applying and note that although the weather in Aspen/Snowmass is typically beautiful in June, there can be weather-related delays when traveling to and from the Pitkin County Airport. Visit our Lodging and Travel page for more details
Q. Where is the Viewline Resort?
A. The Viewline Resort is located at 100 Elbert Lane, Snowmass Village, CO 81615.
Q. Where should I stay?
A. All conference activities including workshops, lunches and panels will take place at the Viewline Resort. We recommend staying at the Viewline in order to be close to other participants, faculty and events. A room block has been reserved for Summer Words participants with a discounted rate of $209 plus resort fee and taxes.
Q. Where should I eat?
A. A light breakfast and lunch, Monday through Friday, are included with your tuition. The Viewline Resort’s executive chef prepares delicious, healthy, buffet-style meals with a variety of options. Also included in your tuition is a welcome BBQ at the Viewline Resort on June 23 as well as a closing reception with drinks and heavy apps. For other meals, Stark’s Alpine Grill and the Viewline Resort lobby bar offer breakfast and dinners daily. First Chair Coffeehouse serves breakfast and lunch daily. Explore the more dining options here.
Q. Where will my workshop meet?
A. All workshops will meet at the Viewline Resort. The exact location of your workshop will be included in your registration materials.
Q. Will I need my computer?
A. You do not need to bring a laptop to your workshop, but you are welcome to if you prefer to make notes on a computer rather than a notebook. You may want your laptop for writing in the hours outside of your workshop, or to access some of your work while you are here.
Q. What should I wear?
A. Summer Words is casual. Jeans and informal attire are appropriate for workshops, receptions, panels and other events. Summer mornings and evenings can be quite cool in Snowmass Village, while the days are typically around 70-75 degrees. We suggest packing lots of layers, including a jacket, as cool weather is always a possibility.
Q. What should I do about altitude sickness?
A. Snowmass Village is 8,000 feet above sea level. Please remember to drink plenty of water as your body will be more dehydrated. Be careful when drinking alcohol as the combination of altitude and dehydration can cause alcohol to act faster. Apply plenty of sunscreen and lip balm. It’s common for visitors coming from sea level to experience headaches and shortness of breath the first couple of days at high elevation. You can find some great advice on dealing with altitude here.
Q. What are Aspen Words’ health and safety standards for conference attendees?
A. By registering and participating in Aspen Summer Words, you understand that there is an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 in any public place where people are present and you voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19.
We strongly encourage all those who attend Aspen Summer Words to be up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccinations, as defined by the CDC. Masks are welcome but not required. If you need a mask, we can provide one to you. Instructors may request participants wear masks during workshops.Please note that these protocols are subject to change, based on revised guidance from the CDC as this pandemic evolves, and/or from the local jurisdictions in which events are being held.
Aspen Words will update you with specific information you may need should our standards change, including any additional enhancements to our standard protocols or modifications selected for that event.Q. Will I have time to write/hike/explore on my own or with family/friends?
A. Write: Yes! All afternoon and evening activities are optional, and you are welcome to use this time to write.
Hike: Yes! We will have at least two guided hiking opportunities. In addition, Snowmass has 90+ miles of hiking trails, and 2.8 million acres of adjacent wilderness to be explored, providing accessible and scenic hiking for all abilities. Visit www.hikesnowmass.com to plan a curated hike for any ability.
Explore: Yes! Snowmass offers a lot to see and do and we encourage you to take advantage. Please visit our Activities page for more information.Q. Can I bring my spouse/partner/friend/child?
A. You are welcome to bring friends or family to join you on your trip to Snowmass. While you are in your morning workshop, they will find plenty to do: mountain biking, hiking, reading by the pool, etc. Your friends and family are also welcome to join us for the afternoon panels and can purchase a public pass on our website in mid-May. A complete list of public events and ticket information will be available then. Opening Night diner and lunches are open to Summer Words students only.
Cancellation Policy
If you need to cancel, we will refund half of the workshop tuition until May 20. We cannot refund cancellations after May 20.
Should a faculty member cancel for Aspen Summer Words, Aspen Words is committed to finding a replacement faculty member who meets our high standard for both teaching expertise, as well as writing acclaim. No refunds will be extended following May 20 due to changes to the faculty roster.
Thank You to Our 2025 Program Sponsors
And Venue Partner:
